Who We Are
Rochester Human Rights Initiative is a medical-student-run clinic that provides forensic asylum evaluations, medical affidavits, and expert declarations for asylum cases. These services are offered by a team of providers from the University of Rochester Medical Center and other local clinics. Evaluations are available to asylum seekers free of charge.
OUR MISSION
We strive to build a base of healthcare leaders continuously working at the intersection of health and human rights who have the tools to make tangible change in the lives of those impacted by global injustices and facilitate access to both necessary care and legal human rights. We hope to develop justice-minded pioneers who can expand upon current programs and promote medical-legal collaboration in pursuit of human rights preservation.
OUR VISION
We aim to uphold the human rights of immigrated individuals by providing necessary legal affidavit writing services for asylum seekers and others who require medical attestation to their right to be in the US, facilitating training for medical professionals and students to provide these services, challenging current practices and expanding upon knowledge to optimize our service and commitment, spreading awareness about global human rights violations and avenues by which to advocate for justice, and conducting research which allows us to better understand the experiences of those who have suffered persecution.
OUR CURRENT LEADERS
Director: Anna Kolstad
Operations Director: Hannah Garth
Clinician Liaison: Dan Xia
Student Liaison: Alyssa Deacon
Legal & Community Liaisons: Ammu Dinesh, Ananta Wadhwa
Case Coordinators:
Bashar Alsamman
OUR FACULTY ADVISORS
Dr. Lindsay Beamon-Scott, MD
Dr. Hazel Lever, MD, MPH
Dr. Rashmi Jasrasaria, MD
OUR LEGAL PARTNERS
Details coming soon!
OUR SPONSORS
Details coming soon!